Mortar depositing device



July 20, 1954 R. c. RICHEY MORTAR DEPOSITING DEVICE Filed Aug. 24, 1950 4 beets-Sheet 2 I NTOR ATTORNEY y 1954 R. c. RICHEY 2,683,981

MORTAR DEPOSITING DEVICE Filed Aug. 24, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet '3 INVENTOR FOfiER c. AWO /5g,

ATTORNEY July 20, 1954 R. c. RICHEY MORTAR DEPOSITING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 24, 1950 INVENTOR FQEERT c. P/CA/E),

ATTORNEY Patented July 20, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to manually operated mortar dispensing devices and more particularly to portable mortar spreading equipment by which mortar deposits of predetermined cross section, length, and spacing may be positioned on selected surface portions of a plurality of aligned building units, such as cinder blocks, concrete blocks, and the like.

Mortar spreading devices have heretofore been suggested for applying stringers or face-shell beddings of mortar to the upper surface portions of building blocks, but such devices have not attained commercial success due to deficiencies in the structural design thereof. More particularly,

the adjusting devices which have heretofore been suggested for varying the size and spacing of the discharge openings to accommodate building blocks of different sizes have been dimcult to manipulate and have necessitated the expenditure of much time in changing the settings thereof. Further, it has been impossible to achieve even and continuous deposits of mortar from known depositing devices since they have failed to embody suitable agitating and mortar conditioning means as integral features thereof. Additionally, the prior art devices have failed to provide selectively operated discharge assistants for 'the dispensing devices whereby an operator may control with a high degree of accuracy the mortar passing through the discharge openings irrespective of the consistency and density of the prepared mortar. Also, the mortar depositing devices known in the prior art have been unwieldly and cumbersome to operate and difficult to move from one position to another on wall surfaces.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved portable mortar spreading device having rotatable means to maintain the workability and fiowability of the supply of prepared mortar within the hopper and dispensing passages of the spreading device, and to aid the discharge of the mortar through the discharge apertures as the device is moved along a course of aligned building blocks.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved mortar spreading device provided with rotatable agitating or spading means which can be adjustably positioned to serve as a wheeled support for the spreading device as it is moved along the upper surface of a plurality of aligned building blocks.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mortar spreading device provided with adjustably positioned rotatable spading means to spade the supply of prepared mortar within the hopper thereof in order to maintain the temper of the mortar and to control its flowability, which means may be manually operated or automatically actuated during movement of the mortar spreading device along the surface upon which mortar is being deposited.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mortar spreading device provided with discharge assistants in the form of rotatable impellers which serve to agitate and to aid the flow of mortar Within the hopper through the discharge apertures of the device.

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved mortar spreading device provided with rotatable spading means and discharge assisting means in the form of rotatable impellers which may be adjustably positioned in a vertical plane to aid the discharge of mortar during different operatingconditions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mortar spreading and depositing device provided with a plurality of spading wheels and a plurality of discharge assistants in the form of impellers mounted for rotation in unison therewith and clutch means whereby the impellers may be selectively disengaged from the spading wheels for manual rotation independent of said spading wheels.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mounting and interlocking means for the rotatable spading Wheels and the impellers whereby (a) both the spading wheels and the impellers may be locked to rotate in unison during manual operation, (b) both the spading wheels and impellers may be locked to rotate in unison when the spading wheels are positioned to extend through the discharge aperture in rolling contact with the surface upon which the mortar is deposited, and (c) the impellers may be manually rotated at speeds different from that of the spading wheels when the latter are positioned with the peripheries thereof in contact with the block surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved discharging arrangement for the hopper by which the apertures through which the face-shell bedding of mortar is dispensed may be varied in width, and the spacing thereof varied to accommodate different width building blocks with a minimum effort and loss of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mortar spreading device having variable outlet or discharge means whereby the dimensions of the stringers or ribbons'of mortar discharged on the inner and outer face-shells of the aligned building blocks as well as the spaced relationship of the mortar ribbons on the face-shells, and also the guiding means for the spreading device may be expeditiously and conveniently adjusted to accommodate the different sizes of cinder blocks, concrete blocks, and other types of building units.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved discharge arrangement for a mortar dispensing device provided with apertures which may be varied both in size and spacing by the use of selected spacing elements which may be selectively positioned and coupled to the bottom portion of the mortar hopper or container by a simple mechanical manipulation.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a mortar spreading device having improved holding means for detachably securing movable discharge aperture forming members to the bottom portion of the hopper thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved discharge arrangement wherein the size and spacing of the dispensing apertures are adjusted by the use of a plurality of members which are hingedly secured on movable supports.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved mortar spreading device which may be moved either forwardly or rearcontribute both to the efliciency of the mortar depositing device and to its ruggedness of construction as well as to the dependability of its operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the improved mortar spreading device in operative position upon the upper course of a well formed of a plurality of aligned building blocks;

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the mortar dispensing device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the mortar dispensing device taken on line 33 of Figure 4;

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 3 with the spading wheels and impellers shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is a bottom view showing a different adjustment of the guiding means and discharge apertures forming elements from that disclosed in Figure 2,;

Figure 6 is a perspective view disclosing the manner of assembling the bottom elements of the mortar spreading device shown in Figures 2 and 5;

Figure 7 is a sectional view showing a modified embodiment of the means for adjusting the position and size of the discharge openings and location of the guide elements in the bottom of the mortar spreading device;

Figure 8 is a side cross sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a view partly in cross section and ing and drive means for the spading wheels and 4 impellers including clutch means for providing selective drive; and

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view taken on line iii-l0 of Figure 9.

Since the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention to such disclosure for I aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling with-in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Referring to Figure 1, reference numeral [2 in dicates my improved mortar dispensing and depositing device operatively positioned upon the upper surface of a masonry wall 14. Reference numerals l6 and I8 represent the inner and outer stringers of mortar which have been deposited by the dispensing device I2 upon the inner and outer face-shells of the wall 14 during movement of the device along the masonry structure. The wall is formed of a plurality of aligned building blocks 20, 22, and 24 respectively, provided with mortar joints 25 therebetween which form a course of the masonry structures. Building blocks 20, 22, and 24 are shown, for illustrative purposes only, as being provided with hollow openings 29 bounded by interior webs 27 and the face-shells of the blocks, although it will be understood that the mortar dispensing device of this invention will serve to deposit face-shell beddings of mortar upon either hollow type building units or solid type units. The building blocks may be either of the heavy weight type formed of concrete, sand, gravel, crushed stone and similar aggregates, or the blocks may be formed of the lighter weight type aggregates, such as cinders, shale or processed slag. The mortar dispensing device may be adjusted to deposit stringers of mortar l6 and IS upon the inner and outer face-shells of the blocks irrespective of the width of the blocks as will be hereinafter more fully discussed.

The mortar dispensing and depositing device i2 is provided with a hopper 28 formed by a plurality of side walls more particularly defined as end walls 33 and 32, forward or front wall 34, and rear wall The hopper formed of end walls 38 and 32, front Wall 3%, and rear wall 36 forms a rectangular enclosing means for the prepared mortar which is deposited during the movement of the dispensing device [2 along the upper surface of a masonary wall. A handle 38 is pivotally secured to end walls 30 and 32 and extends over the top of the hopper 28. By the use of handle 38, a mason may readily lift the mortar dispensing device l2 from the wall course at the conclusion of the depositing operation and place it upon a new course of aligned building blocks upon which mortar deposits are desired.

In order that the mortar dispensing and depositing device may be moved either forwardly or rearwardly over the upper surface of a course of building blocks, a handle Ml is provided on the front panel 34 of the hopper 28. Likewise, provision is made for mounting spaced guide rollers 42 and 4d adjacent to and slightly in front of the lower portion of front wall 34 of hopper 28. Rollers 42 and 44 are mounted upon a shaft 46 which extends across the width of the dispensing device. The shaft is journaled adjacent each of its terminal ends in aligned open bottom slots 48 formed in an outwardly extending flange 50 of side pane1 32 and a corresponding outwardl extending flange 52 of side panel 30. The rollers 42 and at which are rotatably mounted upon shaft t6 are secured in alignment with the upper surface of the building block face-shells by the use of a plurality of sleeve spacers 54 which are positioned between the outside of each of the rollers and the outwardly extending flanges 5B and 52. The rollers are prevented from moving inwardly toward each other on shaft 48 by the use of sleeve spacers 5t positioned on shaft 46 between rollers 42 and 4%. By selecting sleeve spacers of different lengths or by using a plurality of sleeve spacers of a given length between the rollers, the rollers 42 and id may be laterally positioned and maintained spaced apart any desired distance to conform with the spacing of the upper surface of the building block faceshells. The sleeve spacers 54 and 56 are hollow tubular elements, concentrically positioned with respect to shaft 46. The shaft 66 may be adjustably positioned in a vertical position and secured within slots d8 of extending flanges 50 and 52 by the use of wing nuts 58 which coast with the threaded terminal ends of shaft 46 so that the assembly of the shaft, rollers and spacers may be secured in adjusted position. Further, by virtue of the afore discussed structure, the wing nuts 58 ma be loosened and the entire shaft and roller assembly removed from the mortar dispensing device when it is desired to deposit mortar by moving the device in a rearward direction along a course of building units. The building block engaging surfaces of the rollers 42 and 44 are preferably formed of a friction material, such, for example, as natural or synthetic rubber or other similar material.

I have shown in the dawings and will herein describe two alternative embodiments of the bottom structure for hopper 28 by which the two spaced apart apertures through which the mortar is deposited may be adjusted as to the size of the openings and the spacing between the openings to accommodate different sized building units. The bottom structure of each of the embodiments i interchangeable and is removably secured to the walls of the hopper of the motar dispensing device by clamping means which adjustably hold the bottom elements rigidly in position.

Figures 2, 5, and 6 disclose one embodiment of the bottom structure which comprises a plurality of removable strap members, each of which is positioned in spaced relation across the bottom of the hopper, and a plate member which bridges the space between the innermost positioned strap members. The strap members are preferably formed of relatively thin strips of metal which have sufficient rigidity and strength to support the weight of the dispensing device and the prepared mortar contained therein. More particularly, the bottom structure comprise four laterally adjustable strap members 60, Ill, 12, and id having the opposite ends 62 and 64 thereof formed at an angle of substantially 90 with respect to the bottom portions of the strap members as is best shown in Figure 6. The terminal ends 56 and as of the strap members are outwardly directed from ends 62 and 64 to provide flange sections which extend substantially parallel with respect to the bottom por- 6 of. The upper portion of ends 62 and 64 of each of the strap members 66, l0, l2 and 74 extend over or overlap the bottom edges of panels 34 .and 36, and each of the straps are spaced between end panels 30 and 32 of hopper 28 to provide apertures 76 and 18 through which mortar contained in the hopper is deposited upon the masonry wall. Side strap members 5t and T4 are positioned adjacent to end walls 30 and 32 while strap members 10 and 12 are spaced from the center line of the hopper bottom.

Clamping means for securing the strap members 69, l6, l2, and 74 in adjusted position are provided in the form of elongated channel members 8i and 82 which are mounted upon the forward and rear walls of hopper 28 adjacent tov lips 84 and 86 of channel members (ill and 82 re-' spectively. The channel members Bil and 82 are tightened with the flanges of strap members 6!), l0, l2, and i l in adjusted position by rotation of wing nuts 88 upon the coacting threaded section of bolts so which are aligned across the lower portion of the hopper walls and which pass through each of the forward and rear walls of hopper 23. As is shown by Figure 2, a plurality of aligned bolts 98 are employed for each of channel members so and 82 in order to insure that the strap members St, l0, l2 and 14 will be maintained against movement during operation of the device.

The edges of end members 62 and 64 of each of the strap members 65, ill, 12 and Ill which are positioned adjacent to depositing apertures 16 and "i8 are provided with a cutout portion 92 having a curved upper section. The cutout portions 92 of each of strap end members 62 and 64 are positioned in facing relation across apertures 18 and is; to form front and rear extensions or notches in the side walls of the dispensing device which are positioned in alignment with and form a part of each of the discharge apertures. The extensions or notches serve to control the depth of the mortar stringers being deposited and the curved upper section of cutout portion 92 provides a rounded contour on the upper edges of the mortar ribbons l6 and 8. The portions of ends 52 and G l located above the curved sections of the adjacent straps may be placed in abutting relation or slightly overlapped depending upon the width of the mortar stringers l6 and [8 which are desired to be deposited.

A spacer member 94 having upturned ends 95 is positioned intermediate each of side strap members 6i? and it with the edges of the upturned ends in abutting relation with the lower edges of forward wall 34 and rearward wall 35 of hopper 28. The use of these spacer members provides not only a rigid structure but serves to maintain side strap members 58 and M in position during the tightening of the members by wing nuts 88 of the clamping means. A similarly formed spacing element es is positioned between strap members "it and 12 which serves not only as an aid during the clamping action of strap members ill and H but also serves as a bottom closing member for the hopper between strap members It and i2.

Guide means for the mortar dispensing and depositing device which depend below the bottom of the hopper are provided in the form of elongated flanges 98 and Hill. These flanges extend at sub-r stantially right angles to side strap members an and 1-4 and are positioned substantially parallel to end'panel's 30 and 32 of hopper 20. The elongated guide flanges 98 and I may be formed of angle members and are secured to depend below the side strap members 00 and I4. The spacingbetween guide flanges 98 and I00 is adjustable by lateral movement of the side strap members.

The structure aforedes'cribed provides simple means for adjusting the width of apertures "I6 and I0, for adjusting the distance between these apertures and for adjusting the spacing between the guide flanges. In Figure 2 the bottom structure is illustrated as being adjusted to accommodate relatively wide building blocks in that side strap members 60 and I4 are positioned immediately adjacent to end panels 30 and 32. The spacing element 96 has been selected to bridge the distance between the centrally positioned strap members to close the space therebetween. When it is desired to deposit face-shell beddings of mortar on more narrow building units having 1655 Width, the aiorediscussed bottom structure of the mortar dispensing and depositing device is adjusted as shown in Figure 5. is made by loosening wing nuts 88 and moving the strap members 50, T0, T2 and I4 laterally to provide apertures 16 and I8 of desired width and spaced in accordance with the dimensions of the building block. Spacing members 34 of de- 1-:

sired width are selected to bridge or close the bottom of hopper 28 between strap members '50 and I4 and walls 30 and 32 or hopper 28, and a spacing element $.16 is selected of desired width to bridge between intermediate strap members I0 and i2 and the forward and rear panels of the hopper. After the strap members are adjusted and the spacing elements 04 and 90 are placed in position, wing nuts 88 are rotated to tighten channel members 80 and 82 which will, in turn, secure the strap members and spacer elements in the adjusted position. In view of the fact that guide elements 98 and I00 depend from side strap members 60 and i4 they will automatically be positioned to extend downwardly adjacent the outer faces of the building blocks to serve as guide members as the mortar depositing device is moved over the masonry course. As is shown in Figure 5, the spacing of rollers 42 and 44 is adjusted by the removal of some of sleeve spacers 56 and the insertion of additional sleeve spacers 54 between the rollers and extending flanges 50 and 52 of the hopper ends '32 and 30. ifhe cutout portions 32 having curved upper sections in the adjusted position just described serve to provide upper rounded edges of the stringers of mortar It and I8 as above discussed. When the dispensing device is used to deposit stringers of mortar while moving in a rearward direction, it is necessary to remove rollers 42 and 44 which may readily be accomplished by loosening of the Wing nuts and removing the shaft and roller assembly from within slot 48.

An embodiment of an adjustable bottom structure which is self contained and does not necessitate the use of a plurality of separate spacing elements is shown in Figures 7 and 8. In this alternative construction strap members 00, 10, I2 and I4 are employed which are similar in formation to those above discussed. In addition, however, the strap members are provided with an abutting ledge I02 positioned on the interior sides of end members 62 and 64 of the strap members adjacent the upper edges thereof. When the strap members are in secured position as This adjustment member 14 and end wall 32.

shown in Figure 8, the upper edges or the ledges I02 are in abutting relation with the lower edges of front wall 34 and rear wall 36 of hopper 20. Each of the side strap members 60 and I4 are provided with movable members I04 and we respectively which are hingedly connected to the strap members by pivotal connections I08 and H0. As is shown in Figure '7, movable members I04 and I06 are positioned with the edges there of located opposite to the hinge connection in contact with the end walls of hopper 28. Movable member I04 is thus positioned between side strap member 00 and end of wall 30, and movable member I is positioned between side strap When the side strap members are released they may be moved laterally toward the central portion of the mortar dispensing device, and the movable members I04 and I06 may then be rotated about hinged connections I08 and I I0 to serve as a closure for the bottom of the hopper 28 between the side strap members and the adjacent end walls of the hopper.

The centrally positioned strap members and 12 serve to support hinged members I I2 and I I4, each of which is hingedly connected at opposite edges thereof. Hinge member H2 is pivotally connected along one side thereof at IIG to strap member '10 and hinge member H4 is pivotally connected to strap member 12 at H8. The opposite edges of each of the hinge members H2 and H4 are hingedly secured by a centrally positioned pivotal connection I20. Upturned flanges I2I and I23 are provided on each of the ends of hinge members H2 and H4 which extend above the lower edge of front wall 34 and rear wall 30 of hopper 28. When strap members 10 and I2 are moved laterally toward the central portion of the hopper for adjustment of the width and also for adjustment of the spacing of apertures "I6 and I8, hinged members H2 and H4 will rotate about pivotal connections H0 and Ila and also about the central pivotal connection I and will each assume an inclined position within the bottom portion of the hopper.

After the strap members 60, I0, I2 and 14 are positioned to provide the desired aperture spacing and desired spacing between apertures, they are clamped in position in the manner aforediscussed. By the construction shown in Figures 7 and 3, a selected size and spacing of apertures 76 and I8 may be achieved without the use of separate spacing elements since movable members I04 and I06 will prevent mortar from being discharged in the space between walls and 32 of the hopper and hinge members H2 and H4 will serve to prevent the passage of mortar between strap members 70 and 12. Due to the fact that these elements are pivotally connected to the strap members, the bottom structure may be readily adjusted to deposit stringers of mortar upon the face-shells of different width building blocks. In the structure shown in Figure '7, the elongated guide flanges '08 and I00 are mounted on plates I22 and I24 which in turn are secured beneath side strap members and T4. The elongated guide flanges 08 are secured below plates I22 and I24 by adjustable fastening means I26 and I28, by which they may be laterally adjusted and secured to accommodate building blocks having various tolerances found in commercial practice.

The rotatable means to maintain the work ability and 'flowability of the prepared mortar within hopper 28 of the mortar dispensing device and to aid in the depositing action of the device comprises spading wheels I30 and I32. As will be hereinafter explained, spading wheels I30 and I32 may be adjusted also to serve as wheeled supports for the mortar dispensing device. As is shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, spading wheels I30 and I32 are of circular shape and have a diameter slightly less than the distance between the inside surfaces of front wall 34 and rear wall 36 of hopper 28. The spading wheels are preferably formed of relatively thin material with a rim member I34, a hub I36 and radially extending members I38, which serve to connect rim member I34 with the hub I36. A plurality of openings are thus provided in the body of the spading wheels through which mortar may flow during the rotation of the spading wheels. Each of the spading wheels I30 and I32 are mounted upon shaft I40 which is positioned in the lower portion of the hopper between end walls 30 and 32. Shaft I40 passes through the hub I36 of the spading wheels and is releasably secured thereto by the use of set screws I4I The terminal ends of shaft I40 extend through elongated slots I42 of the respective end walls and are journaled in bearings provided in plates I44 and I46. In addition to the journal bearings for shaft I40, plates I44 and I43 are provided with threaded studs I48 which extend outwardly through elongated slots I42. Wing nuts I50 are threadedly received on studs I48 for tightening the plates I44 and I40 against the interior surfaces of end walls 30 and 32 of the hopper. By virtue of this construction, the supporting means for shaft I40 is movable in substantially a vertical direction to adjust the position of the spading wheels within the lower portion of hopper 28. A hand crank designated by reference numeral I 52 is detachably secured to one of the ends of shaft I40 which extends through the end of the hopper and the opposite end thereto is provided with means, such, for example, as a cotter pin I54 for maintaining the shaft in place.

The spading wheels I30 and I32 are positioned in substantial alignment with apertures I6 and I8 provided in the bottom structure of the hopper. Upon adjustment of the aperture sizes and aperture spacing as hereinbefore discussed, the

spading wheels may be relocated upon shaft I40 by loosening of set screws MI and sliding the wheels along the shaft to a selected position, at which place they may be locked to the shaft by the tightening of the set screws. By virtue of the structure thus described, the spading wheels may be adjustably positioned in a vertical plane, and upon the lowering of the wheels, the peripheries of rim members I 34 may be adjusted to extend through apertures I6 and I8 to come into contact with the upper surfaces of the building block constituting the masonry structure. When adjusted into this position, spading wheels I30 and I32 will serve as a Wheeled support for the mortar dispensing and depositing device and concurrently with this function will serve to spade the prepared mortar within the hopper to prevent it from setting and to insure its pro-per flowability. Due to the spa-ding and mixing func tion, wheels I30 and I32 will also serve to insure an even and continuous flow of motar through apertures I and I0 during operation of the dispensing device.

By the'use of adjustable spading wheels which may be either manually rotated or rotated due to the movement of the mortar dispensing device, different types of mortar mixtures prepared with various consistencies may be continuously deposited in an expeditious manner. When the spading wheels are located in their upper position so that the peripheries of rims I34 are located within the bottom of hopper 28, the amount of prepared mortar deposited by the device during its movement over the upper surface of the masonry structure, may be controlled by manually rotating the spading wheels with crank: I 52. By rotating the crank at selected speeds, the deposit of full and continuous stringers of mortar is achieved irrespective of the type of mortar employed or its consistency. In the use of mortars prepared with certain ingredients, highly satisfactory face-shell beddings of mortar may be applied without manual rotation of crank I52 by lowering spa-ding wheels I30 and I332 to a position where the rim members thereof extend through apertures and I8, and the peripheries of the wheels extend below the bottom of the mortar dispensing device. In this position of adjustment, the mortar dispensing device is supported upon the spading wheels which will rotate to provide a spading action of the mortar as the device is moved along the masonry structure. In this condition of adjustment it has been found that guide rollers 42 and 44 are unnecessary, and, accordingly, the roller assembly including shaft may be removed from the device in the manner aforedescribed, whereby the dispensing device is entirely supported by the spading wheels, the peripheries of which are in direct contact with the surface of the building units. It will further be apparent, that with guide rollers 42 and 44 removed, the device may be moved in either direction, i. e. forwardly or ba-ckwardly, along the course of the building units. Spading wheels I and I32 and the assembly therefor may be used with either of the embodiments of the bottom structure for hopper 23 which have heretofore been described.

When prepared mortar having consistencies of high densities are deposited with the dispensing device, it has been found desirable to provide one or more discharge assistants in the form of impellers I56 and I 58 which serve to stir the mortar and direct its flow through the discharge apertures. As is shown in the drawings, the discharge assistants are provided with a plurality of blades which radiate from a hub member through which shaft I extends. The impellers are formed with a diameter less than that of spading wheels I30 and I32 and are preferably positioned on shaft I40 between the spading wheels. In the embodiments disclosed in Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, the impellers I and. I53 are fixedly secured to the shaft I40 by the use of set screws I60. When apertures I6 and I8 are adjusted both as to size and spacing, the impellers I50 and I58 may be relocated on shaft I40 in the manner of spading wheels I30 and I32, i. e. by the use of set screws.

When the dispensing and depositing device is adjusted with the spading Wheels in lowered position to extend through apertures I6 and I8 to serve as wheeled supports for the dispensing de vice, set screws I II may be loosened to permit the spading wheels to rotate freely on shaft I40. In those instances where the density of the prepared mortar requires, crank I52 may be rotated during movement of the dispensing device in order to operate impellers I56 and IE3 at selected speeds to assist the discharge of the mortar through apertures I 6 and I8.

In order to provide a more expeditious means of disconnecting spading wheels I38 and I32 from the discharge assistants I56 and I58, the mechanism shown in Figures 9 and of the drawings has been found advantageous. In this mechanism clutch devices have been employed between shaft I40 and spading wheels I and I32. The clutch and shaft assemblies are mounted for adjustment in a vertical plane by the use of plates I44 and I46 in a manner which has heretofore been described. The discharge assistants I56 and I58 in this embodiment of my invention are mounted upon the inner end of sleeve shafts 52. Shaft I extends through sleeve shafts I82 and is releasably connected thereto by virtue of set screws I6 3. Upon rotation of handle I52, shaft I40, sleeve shafts I52, and impellers I50 and I58 turn as a unit. The spading wheels I32] and 932 are provided with hubs I66 which are journaled upon sleeve shafts I52. It will be observed from Figure 9 that one end of the hubs IE6 is positioned immediately adjacent to the hubs of impellers I and I58. The opposite edge of impeller hubs I68 is in frictional contact with tubular spacing elements IE8 which extend through the journals in plates Hi4 and Hit and a distance beyond the end walls 30 and 32 of hopper 2B. The ends of sleeve shafts I62 opposite those upon which the impellers I56 and I58 are mounted are threaded and extend a distance beyond the terminal edge of tubular spacing element I65. Wing nuts I10 having threads which coact with the threaded portion of the sleeve shafts are mounted upon sleeve shafts I82, and upon tightening the wing nuts N0 the tubular spacing elements I68 will engage the hub of spading wheels I30 and I32 and continued tightening of the wing nuts will cause the opposite edges of the spading wheel hubs to frictionally engage the hubs of the impellers, thus establishing a drive through disengageable means for the spading wheels. When crank I52 is rotated with wing nuts I10 tightened, both impellers I56 and I58 and spading wheels I30 and I32 are rotated as a unit. When wing nuts I10 are backed off to loosen the clutch assembly, rotation of the crank I52 will serve to rotate only the impeller blades I56 and I58.

The impellers I56 and I58 may be either connected or disconnected when the spading wheels are lowered in a position where the peripheries thereof extend through apertures 16 and 18 to contact the masonry blocks. As previously dis cussed, when the spading wheels serve as a wheeled support for the mortar dispensing device and a prepared mortar of dense consistency employed, it may be desirable to rotate the impeller wheels at speeds other than the speeds of the spading wheels, which are turned by virtue of the movement of the dispensing device along the aligned building blocks. Under this condition of use the wing nuts I10 are released and the impeller are manually rotated by the crank at speeds to insure a full and continuous deposit of mortar through apertures 15 and I3. It will be apparent that the rotatable mounting means including clutch device for the spading wheels and impellers shown in Figure 9 may be adjusted to space the spading wheels and impellers by sliding the tubular spacing elements in the journals of plates IM and E46 and locking the assembly in position by tightening set screws I84. Further, it will be noted that the rotatable mounting means may be utilized with the embodiments of the hopper bottom structure which have been hereinbefore described.

12 In view of the fact that the mortar dispensing and depositing device of my invention fzwilitates the depositing of stringers of mortar by both a forward movement and a rearward movement of a device, the embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10 has omitted the guide rollers 42 and N although they may be employed if forward move ment only of the device is utilized. Further, the placement of the peripheries of the spading wheels in contact with the upper surface of the building blocks so as to provide a wheeled support for the device, serves to reduce friction and facilitate ease of operation. In mortar dispensing devices of the type herein disclosed which are intended to be used to deposit mortar by reversible movement of the device, it may be preferred to employ rotatable paddle type of discharge assistants such as has been disclosed in Figures 9 and 10. In.

this embodiment, the blade surfaces of the impellers are formed with a straight leading edge and are positioned in angular relationship to the axis of the drive shaft so that the prepared mortar will be stirred or agitated at a point in close proximity to the discharge apertures.

In practice it has been found that even and continuous deposits of prepared mortar may be dispensed by the use of my invention- Although when at rest, the prepared mortar contained in the hopper will not be discharged, by utilizing the mechanism in the manner described, mortars of all conventional types used in the masonry trade may be deposited in selected amounts and spacings irrespective of the consistency and: denthereof since the spading action of the device insures the continued workability and flowability of the mortar and the impellers facilitate the continuous dispensing of the mortar.

I claim:

1. A portable mortar dispensing and spreading device for depositing mortar upon a building block or the like comprising a hopper formed with a bottom and side walls, a plurality of rectangularly shaped discharge apertures positioned in the said bottom in spaced relationship to each other and adjacent to opposite sides of said hopper, a notch formed in at least one of said side walls positioned in alignment with and forming a continuation of each of said discharge apertures, a wheeled support for said dispensing and spreading device comprising a plurality of spading wheels rotatably positioned in spaced relationship within the lower part of said hopper having a portion of each wheel extending through a discharge aperture to project beneath the bottom of said hopper for frictional engagement with a mortar receiving surface of a building block.

2. A portable dispensing and spreading device for depositing mortar upon a building block or the like comprising a hopper formed with a bottom and side walls, a plurality of rectangularly shaped discharge apertures positioned within said bottom and located in spaced relationship, a notch formed in at least one of said side walls positioned in alignment with and forming a continuation of each of said discharge apertures, a spading wheel rotatably supported within a lower portion of said hopper above each of said discharge apertures, and adjustable supporting and securing means comprising movable members mounted on said hopper by which the spading wheels may be lowered to project peripheral portions thereof through said apertures to engage with rolling contact the mortar receiving surface of a building block.

3. A portable dispensing and spreading device for depositing mortar upon a building block or the like comprising a hopper formed with a bottom and side walls, a plurality of rectangularly shaped discharge apertures positioned within said bottom and located in spaced relationship, a notch formed in at least one of said side walls positioned in alignment with and forming a continuation of each of said discharge apertures, a rotatable spading wheel for each of said discharge apertures located within the lower portion of said hopper, a shaft positioned within said hopper upon which each of said spading wheels is adjustably secured in alignment with a dis charge aperture, and adjustable mounting means carried by said hopper comprising movable shaft engaging members for rotatably supporting said axle with the spading wheels selectively located to position the lower portion of the peripheries thereof either in a position immediately above the bottom of said hopper or in a position extending through said apertures to a location below said hopper.

4. A portable mortar dispensing and spreading device for depositing mortar upon a building block or the like comprising a hopper formed with a bottom and side walls, a plurality of rectangularly shaped discharge apertures positioned in the said. bottom in spaced relationship to each other and adjacent to opposite sides of said hopper, a notch formed in at least one of said side walls positioned in alignment with and forming a continuation of each of said discharge apertures, a wheeled support for said dispensing and spreading device comprising a plurality of spading wheels rotatably ositioned in spaced relationship within the lower part of said hopper having a portion of each wheel extending through a discharge aperture to project beneath the bottom of said hopper for frictional engagement with a mortar receiving surface of a building block, and a rotatable stirring member positioned within said hopper in spaced relation to each of said spading wheels for agitating and directing the flow of mortar to said discharge apertures.

5. A portable mortar dispensing and spreading device for depositing mortar upon a building block or the like comprising a hopper formed with a bottom and side walls, a plurality of rectangularly shaped discharge apertures positioned within said bottom and located in spaced relationship, a notch formed in at least one of said side walls positioned in alignment with and forming a continuation of each of said discharge apertures, a spading wheel and a stirring memher for each of said discharge apertures located within the lower portion of said hopper, a shaft upon which said stirring members are rotatably supported, freely rotatable bearing members mounting said spading wheels and supported by said shaft, and means for selectively connecting said bearing members to said stirring members whereby said spading wheels and stirring members may be rotated in unison or independently of each other.

6. A portable mortar dispensing and spreading device for depositing mortar upon a building block or the like comprising a hopper formed with a bottom and side walls, a plurality of rectangularly shaped discharge apertures positioned in the said bottom in spaced relationship to each other and adjacent to opposite sides of said hopper, a notch formed in at least one of said side walls positioned in alignment with and forming a continuation of each of said discharge aper- Fill tures, a wheeled support for said dispensing and spreading device comprising a plurality of spading wheels rotatably supported upon a shaft in spaced relationship within the lower part of said hopper and having a portion of each wheel extending through a discharge aperture in rolling contact with the mortar receiving surface or" said building block, a rotatable stirring member positioned within said hopper and supported upon said shaft for agitating the mortar in said hopper, means for selectively connecting one of said spading wheels and said stirring member positioned between said one spading wheel and said stirring member, whereby said one spading wheel and said stirring member may be rotated in unison or independently of each other, and manually operated means positioned outside of said hopper for rotating said stirring member.

7. A portable mortar dispensing and spreading device for depositing mortar upon a building block or the like comprising a hopper formed with front, back and side walls, a bottom for said hopper comprising side strap members positioned adjacent to each of said side walls and two strap members centrally positioned with respect to said hopper bottom spaced from each other and spaced from said side strap members, a plate member positioned within said hopper having an edge thereof pivotally connected to each of said side strap members and the opposite free edge thereof lying immediately adjacent to an interior side wall of the hopper, a bottom plate member formed of hinged members pivotally connected at its opposite edges to said centrally positioned strap members, and fastening means securing said strap members in selected positions transverse of said hopper.

8. A portable mortar dispensing and spreading device for depositing mortar upon a building block or the like comprising a hopper formed with a bottom and side walls, a plurality of rectangularly shaped discharge apertures positioned in the said bottom in spaced relationshi to each other and adjacent to opposite sides of said hopper, a notch formed in at least one of said side walls positioned in alignment with and forming a continuation of each of said discharge apertures, a wheeled support for said dispensing and spreading device comprising spaced rollers positioned exteriorly of the hopper and in alignment with said discharge apertures and a plurality of spading wheels rotatably positioned in spaced relationship within the lower part of the hopper, mounting means for said spading wheels comprising vertically movable supports whereby the wheels may be adjustably positioned and secured with a peripheral portion thereof projecting through said apertures to a position beneath the bottom of said hopper, and mountings for said rollers comprising vertically adjustable securing means whereby the vertical height of the rollers may be adjusted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 22,339 Badger Dec. 21, 1858 262,498 Strayer Aug. 8, 1882 1,138,291 Hilliard May 4, 1915 1,556,616 Landkamer Oct. 13, 1925 1,573,493 Heyd Feb. 16, 1926 1,613,833 Jensen Jan. 11, 1927 1,780,902 Ainsle Nov. 11, 1930 2,341,691 Ciceske Feb. 15, 1944 2,591,377 Sadler Apr. 1, 1952 

